Apple has announced a "special event" for Tuesday evening - again.
As a reminder: In September the group presented the new Apple Watches and iPads, in October the new iPhones and the HomePod Mini.
You could ask yourself: What is still to come?
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"One more thing" - the invitation to the Apple event on Tuesday
Photo:
Apple
On the invitation card sent by the company by email, there is the famous Steve Jobs quote "One more thing".
The late Apple co-founder liked to say these three words towards the end of his famous keynote speeches, when he had presented all the expected products, but could still pull a surprise up his sleeve.
However, this time you will be able to take the old Jobs saying literally: On Tuesday it will be about Apple's Mac computer.
Apple CEO Tim Cook had already announced this in June at the WWDC developer conference.
There he announced the new operating systems for iPhones, iPads and Apple's Smartwatches - and thus also subliminally promised new versions of these gadgets, which are now also on the market.
The big news from WWDC, on the other hand, was that Apple wants to kick the chip manufacturer Intel.
The company had installed processors in its Californian neighbor's computers for 15 years, but that should soon be over.
For many years, Apple's smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and TV boxes have contained processors that the company developed itself.
In the future, this should also apply to computers.
For Apple, something like this is part of its declaration of independence: The company has long attached importance to developing as many components of its ecosystem as possible itself.
Since the developers develop both the hardware and the operating systems themselves and link them to the online services provided by Apple, all components are interlinked that is unique in the industry.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook at the virtual WWDC 2020
Photo: BERNADETTE SIMPAO / AFP
Users find this pleasant as long as they stay true to Apple's system.
Anyone who uses iPhone, iPad and MacBook, subscribes to iCloud, Apple Music and Apple TV +, can settle in a cloud of automatic data synchronization: the photo that has just been taken on the iPhone can be edited seconds later on the Mac, and the evening TV that started on the iPad can be on the Apple TV To be brought to an end.
With the switch to their own processors in the Macs, this integration will go a step further, because software developers should have it easier in the future to be able to offer apps developed for iPhone and iPad for Apple computers.
Apple's well-padded golden cage becomes even more attractive.
What will be particularly exciting on Tuesday is what performance the new chips will bring and how much they will change the Macs.
According to rumors, new versions of the slim MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro are on Apple's plan.
Some even suspect a new edition of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is only affordable for professionals and is popular with videographers, photographers and musicians.
It remains to be seen whether Apple's first notebook chip is powerful enough to power such a device.
Strange digital world: nothing more is possible
The round of new Apple releases had an unexpected consequence for me: one day nothing worked.
As part of testing iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches, I had to add a few gadgets to the devices that are already linked to my Apple ID.
Many years ago I got used to testing new technology under the most realistic conditions possible.
And so that I can use them like my everyday devices, my photos, my e-mails and my music also have to be on them.
But then suddenly the message popped up: "You have reached the maximum number of devices for this Apple ID".
Icon: enlargePhoto: Matthias Kremp / DER SPIEGEL
It felt like I'd sailed to the edge of the world and then hit a wall, like Jim Carey on The Truman Show.
Only that the way out in my case wasn't a door, but changes to the settings of my account, from which I had to throw out the test devices that had been added for a few weeks to make room for new ones.
What I learned: You cannot assign more than ten devices to an Apple Music subscription.
Under normal circumstances, you will hardly come to this limit.
External links: three tips from other media
"Battle for control: why the age-old console wars show no sign of stopping" (10 minutes to read, English): Last week was the week of the game consoles, and we also tested what the new Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X are and S can.
The Guardian explains why the Console War has been undecided for so long, and why Netflix-style subscription games could be the next big thing.
"The X-Files of Astronomy: So much more than just a search for aliens" (Very many minutes of reading): If something in space violates the laws of nature or does not seem to be explainable for other reasons, it quickly becomes a mystery and possibly a result of driving aliens explained.
A "Heise" author who hides behind the pseudonym Alderamin has found natural explanations for at least 15 such mysteries.
"CABVIEW: Live chat and stream from the Bergen Line in Norway" (video livestream): If you find yourself in lockdown at home too tight and you've already watched Netflix empty, why not hop on a train on YouTube that is over Norway's snowy Bergen Line is running.
This is somewhat reminiscent of the times when the Third Programs showed recordings of rail journeys at night.
Only that the entertainment value is greater because a lot of nonsense is exchanged in the parallel chat.
Get through this shutdown week safely!
Matthias Kremp
